First Presbyterian sued by ex-employee

Bethlehem church broke law by firing her, woman charges.

January 29, 2003|By Tyra Braden Of The Morning Call

An Allentown woman fired from her job as financial manager of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem wants damages and her job back.

Sharon L. Biery of Helen Avenue filed a civil complaint Tuesday in Northampton County Court. Her attorney, Donald P. Russo of Bethlehem, demands an unspecified amount of money for Biery, as well as reinstatement and back pay.

FOR THE RECORD - (Published Saturday, February 1, 2003) Sharon L. Biery of Allentown claims in a Northampton County lawsuit against First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem that she began suffering from health problems as "a result of a culmination of circumstances, including various acts of retaliation which were the result of [Biery's] complaints about certain improprieties." Incorrect information appeared in a story that ran in some editions on Wednesday.

John Netzel, the church's senior manager, said he had not seen the complaint and could not comment.

The complaint gives the following account.

Biery was hired as financial manager on Dec. 12, 1998. "As a result of a culmination of circumstances, including various acts of retaliation which were the result of" church officials' "complaints about certain improprieties," Biery "began to suffer from various health maladies."

The complaint does not explain the alleged improprieties.

Biery suffered high blood pressure and "severe depression" and filed for short-term disability. Her doctor told her she should take time off from work, and she began her leave Jan. 5, 2001. The church's insurance carrier approved short-term disability.

The church fired Biery five days later.

The complaint says Biery's medical problems are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, because her condition "substantially limited [her] major life activities of working, thinking, interacting with others and sleeping."

Therefore, the suit says, the church violated the act, as well as the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the anti-retaliation provision of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act.